“Tanyaalways has an argument,”he says dismissively.“She never stops arguing.”
“The Court will rule in her favour.They’ve been trying to get rid of you almost as long as they have me.”
His smile makesme want to smile, and I hate him for it.
“I do believe they tried to kill me first.”He pullsaside one half of his tunic to stare at the tattoo on his stomach.“Yep, says righthere: 16 Moqui1992CE.Evangeline stabbed me when I was three years old.”
“We were playing,” I scoff.“She wasn’t even head of the FI then, and it was an accident.That doesn’t count.”
“She’s always been a wily one.Knew the threat I would be when I got older.Also, who has that sort of accident with acrayon?It’s statistically impossible.”Herunshis forefinger along the scar cutting across the left half of his stomach.
Rising from my chair, I start to pace.“If theyacceptTanya’sdefinition, you’ll be charged with treason.I will be forced to publicly execute you.”
“Ah, I see now why you’re upset.”His eyes twinkle as they track me across the room.
“Don’t –”
“You’re worried I’ll get a boner ‘cause I’m a masochist.But if you just start with my cock –”
“Dammit, Jace!For once, try to stay serious.”
“You’re right.Sorry.If you started with my cock, Iwould definitely get a boner.”He grins.“Don’t look, but I’m getting one now just thinking about it.”
Striding back to my desk, I pull out another pen, a piece of paper, and the royal stamp.“I’m sending you to Urabel on assignment.You’ll leave tonigh–”
“The hel I will.”He retrievesa green berry from his tunic and sitsdown on the edge of my desk.“They’ve tried to assassinate you twicetoday.”
“Twice?”
He waves a hand.“You were asleepfor the first one.I’m not going more than five metres from you, let alone to the most northern reach of our kingdom.”Pulling out a knife, he cutsinto his snack.
Ignoring him, I start to write down his orders.The pen disappearsfrom my hand.
Snap.
I look upin time to seethe pieces flying through the air.A bitof ink splasheson my cheek.“I’m not killing you,” I grind out.
“Will you at least do the whole knifeplay thing?I haven’t had sex in –” He twirlshis knife in the air as he counts.“Ten, eleven hours?And not to speak ill of the dead, but the assassin wasn’t a very good lay.It was clear she was using me right from the start.” Cutting another slice off his berry, he adds, “Besides, you need me to help you dig through all the paperwork so we can mount a defence.”
“I have a whole team of scholars –”
“That you trust?”
Idon’tbother answering.It’sno secret that I don’t.
“It’ll be fine,” he assuresme, “and if not, I’ll get to have your sexy hands all over me.That’s pretty much a win-win.”
Exhaling sharply, I bitebackwhatI want to say.The only person more stubborn thanJaceisNicholas.Getting either of them to look after themselvesispointless.I grab the last pen out of the drawer.“Fine.Then start mounting a defence while I get through these damn petitions.”
“Will do.”Finishing off his berry, he lickshis knife clean.Spreading his wings, hefliesup to the mezzanine, grabsthe spare chair, and landsback in front of me.Opening the door, hesayssomething to one of the guards, thensitsdown and pullsout another berry.One of these days, I’mgoing to figure out where hekeepsthe damn things.
Twirling the pen in between my fingers, I pretend not to notice the feel of his stare.I concentrate on the petition in front of me, writing counters to the reasons they’vegivenabout not letting “enemy” immigrants into Raza.
1.Theycouldbe spies wanting to create discord in the kingdom.There will be intense background checks andinterrogationsinterviews beforehand.
2.Theywillcommit more crimes.
I pinch the bridge of my nose as Ithinkit over.Spoutingstatisticsabout immigrants being less likely to commit crimes than natives won’tsway these people.Thisisan emotionalmatter, not a factual one.All it’dtakeisonebadimmigrant, and there’dbe another assassination attempt on me by some idiot trying to stop me from “destroying our kingdom”.
